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Q2. “Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has
undergone several changes since its inception in 1980s.”

Model Answer:

It was well settled that the public interest litigation could
be initiated by means of letters and telegrams addressed to the Court. The
letter or telegram addressed to an individual justice of the Court cannot also
be rejected merely on the ground that it is not addressed to the Court. In other
words a letter or telegram addressed by a public spirited citizen can
legitimately be regarded as an ‘appropriate proceeding’ for the purposes of
article 32 of the Constitution.

The strategy of public interest litigation has been evolved
by the Supreme Court with a view to bring justice within the easy reach of the
poor and the disadvantaged sections of the community. The Supreme Court has
expanded the wings of public interest litigation in the course of time.

The instrument of public interest litigation has served to
protect the human rights of poor and disadvantaged masses. It has covered
several areas of litigations. The Supreme Court has used the jurisdiction for
prohibition of exploitation of workmen, enforcing the rights of children
employees, and release of bonded labourers. It was used for the eradication of
the child prostitution, devadasi system and jogin tradition, and rescue and
rehabilitation, through various welfare measures, of prostitutes and their
children. The Court has used the instrument of public interest litigation for
seeking relief against mala fide acts of the public servant in the discharge of
his functions as public servant, protection of the environment and the people’s
right to natural resources, release of undertrials on bail and to direct the
speedy trial, seeking release of children below 16 years detained in jails to
direct the CBI to conduct investigation as to corruption, and also for the
protection of independence of the judiciary.

The public interest litigation was also used by the Court to
award the monetary compensation in appropriate cases of violations of right to
life personal liberties. The award of compensation in public interest litigation
proceeding is the admirable and pleasant idea of justicing the poor and disabled
victims of violations of right to life personal liberties.